Apparatus for raising and lowering buggy-tops



(Nd Model.)

P. H. FARNHAM.

APPARATUS FOR-RAISING ANDLOWBRING BUGGY TOPS.

No. 636,864. Patented Apr. 2, 1895.

.NITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. FARNHAM, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING BUGGY-TOP S.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,864, dated April 2, 1895.

Application filed March 28,1894. Serial No. 505,490. (No model.)

To Ml wh ch it may coneern.

Be it known that I, FRANK H. FARNHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and nsefulImprovement in Apparatus for Raising and Lowering Buggy-Tops, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is aside view of my invention, with the top shown in dotted lines in its lowered and folded position. Fig. 2 is a detail showing more particularly the rock-shaft actuating lever for conveniently lowering the top.

My invention pertains to improvements in apparatus for raising and lowering buggy and carriage tops, and its object is to provide a simple, durable and effective device whereby the top may be easily drawn up or down by the driver while in his seat, without stopping the vehicle or releasing the driving reins.

The invention consists of a simple and inexpensive attachment to the body of the vehicle as generally constructed.

The peculiar advantages and operation of the device will be readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which A designates the body of the vehicle provided interiorly with the ordinary iron stays 2, side rails 3, and back stays 4. A rock shaft 5, which is normally concealed from View by the back cushion, extends across the inner side of the back of the vehicle body and is journaled in the side rails 3. The outer ends of this shaft are squared and closely fitted within corresponding apertures in the lower ends of the side braces 6. The upper section of each of the side-braces 6 forms the stem or vertical portion of a T shaped stay 9 applied to each side of the top and pivoted at its center to the middle bow thereof and at the ends of its top, cross, or horizontal, portion to the front and rear bows, respectively. This top cross or horizontal portion is provided with folding sections 8 and 10 jointed as shown thereto to fold or flex reversely as the top is lowered, to permit simultaneously also the compact folding of the top as outlined in dotted lines in Fig. 1. An operating lever 7 is attached-to the rock shaft by a set screw or other suitable means. It will be observed that when the top of the vehicle is in an erect position the lever lies horizontally across the end of the seat and within convenient reach of the right hand of the driver, who can easily and gradually lower the top by raising the lever to the position shown in Fig. 1.

What I claim as new is- The combination of the rock-shaft journaled upon the vehicle-body and having applied thereto an actuating lever, the approximately T-shaped, jointed stays having their lower ends fixed to said shaft and the arms of their top cross-pieces jointed to sections adapted to fold reversely and pivoted to the front and rear bows of the top, said top crosspieces being centrally pivoted to the middle bows of the top, whereby the top is adapted to be simultaneously lowered and folded, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, this 22d day of March, 189l, in the presence of Witnesses.

FRANK I-I. FARNl-IAM.

W'itnesses:

R. S. MILLAR, R. KIRK. 

